Melrose barn converted to scary fright house

By LYDIA GEHRING
Living EditorPublished: October 31, 2012 4:00AM

WOOSTER -- As "Dr. Freeman Howlets" led visitors into his laboratory, he was ready to make sure they heard the "real" story of how the Melrose apple was created. Obviously, he wanted to provide a good scare to the guests who were there for a private party at the Melrose Haunted Orchard.

Michael Dhayer, who portrayed the role of Dr. Howlets, along with his friend, Joe Kennedy, were instrumental in helping to design the orchard. Both avid collectors of Halloween props and paraphernalia, the duo has been putting on a private fright house for years in Kennedy's Shreve-area barn.

"At least 40-50 percent of the props here are handmade," Kennedy said. "The whole thing was designed so that we could give back to the community, so at least with the private parties we are doing it in a small way. Everybody coming through is having a good time."

Several props also were borrowed from collector Rhett Martin, who specializes in making Ghostbusters' gear, but also had other appropriate decorations to set the scene. He spent much of his time helping volunteers get the show ready to go.

After winding their way through the barn on the orchard's property that featured 13 themed rooms filled with zombies, mummies, clowns and more, guests left with more than enough of their yearly dose of Halloween scare. There was even a room featuring an old apple press turned into a buzz saw, with the far-off odor of manure lingering in the air, just to "help set the mood," Kennedy said.

Over three nights, volunteers donned make-up, costumes and other props to bring the Haunted Orchard alive for invitation-only crowds, free of charge. But what had been planned to be a money-making fundraiser for the Wooster Fireworks Foundation and YMCA didn't become a reality because of a variance issue in the city. Initially the city granted a variance allowing the orchard event to take place, but the variance was contested by a neighbor of the Portage Road property. Organizer Bret Defibaugh filed an appeal with the city's Board of Building and Zoning Appeals, but eventually withdrew it, ending hopes of having the orchard being open to the public.

So instead, about 900 people -- students, parents, people involved with the YMCA and volunteers -- were invited to walk through the barn free of charge on three nights.

Haunted Orchard committee member Gil Ning, also president of the Wooster Fireworks Foundation, said although it was disappointing to not be able to open the barn to the public, those involved with putting it together were still more than satisfied with the outcome of what they had done.

"Watching the committee, especially Mike and Joe, do the creativity of the actual house, was just amazing," Ning said. "Then to actually have the inspectors from the city come in and OK everything, move the stuff from Joe's barn to the orchard, build the walls, seeing this thing, creating it -- that's the thrill of everything. We took this barn that had nothing and turned it into this."

Although the financial goal of the committee was not met, it was still able to give back to the community -- which was really what it had wanted to do all along.

"Our initial mission was to provide giving back to the community -- that's all we wanted to do," Ning said. "We didn't give back monetarily but we feel we gave back not in money but in entertainment, and that is satisfying to everyone. Now we know that it can be a hit. Now we have to just seek other options. We know the success and acceptance is there so it can be done now."

Members of the committee are happy they were able to provide some good, clean fun to those who were able to attend this year's Haunted Orchard.

"It was fun to bring the old barn back to code and life, as it was much needed," Defibaugh said. "Anytime you can give back to your community in any way is exciting. We haven't gotten any bad reviews and are still getting calls about how great it was. As far as next year, everything is still up in the air. Wooster has no variances or codes for something like this, which is sad for a community our size. But we are going to see what we can do because it could have done a lot of good for our community."

Living editor Lydia Gehring may be reached at 330-287-1655 or living@the-daily-record.com. She's lgehringTDR on Twitter.

Want to leave your comments?

Politics as usual in the city of Wooster. Bend the rules and make exceptions for members of the "brown bag one thousand."

October 31, 2012 9:24AM

It was great! They did a wonderful job with it. The site was perfect for it. The neighbor who complained is a juvenile probation officer - so you'd think he'd be concerned with fun things for kids that will keep them out of trouble. And before Mindy Cavin jumps on here and say it wasn't legal, she is correct. The property wasn't zoned correctly for it, which the committee thought was the whole point of getting the variance. Hopefully they will find a place outside of the city limits to have it next year. And MikeNugent74 - the whole point of the project was to raise more money for the fireworks to make them better than Orrville's.

October 31, 2012 9:15AM

First off shame on the city for approving something that violated the building and zoning laws in the first place. Don't have the rules and only apply them to some people!! From the looks of these pictures a lot of work and expense was put into this project. My family had planned to attend and looks like a great time would of been had by all. I am curious why Mr. Russell decided to put up a stink about this event. I really want his story because I feel bad for being angry with him about it. Maybe he doesn't celebrate Halloween? Maybe he gets sick of building and zoning choosing when to apply the code?

October 31, 2012 8:40AM

I would have loved to have taken my children to the Haunted Orchard. Yep 1 bad apple ruined it for everyone. I heard it was a neighbor who works w/ children too, that was mad about it. That is too sad, all the fun there could have been for area children.
Heck, they were even giving the proceeds back to the community. YMCA is a great activity for children throughout the area. And everyone knows the Wooster fireworks could use all the help they can get- CRAP. I haven't been to them in many years. 5 min. of all white fireworks. BOOOOOO There was the Holloween and wooster fireworks connection. Next year go to Orrville, they'll let you do the haunted house. give them the money for fireworks, 1000 times better then wooster

October 31, 2012 7:20AM

Too bad this wasn't able to open so many good things could have been the outcome, but I guess the old saying "it only takes one bad apple" really fits in this case!